Posted on 11/11/2007 7:29:39 PM PST by CJacobs
The Kansas City Chiefs celebrated Veterans Day at Arrowhead in a very special way. This thread will not talk about the game. This thread is about Veteran's Day and what was experienced.
The Kansas City Chiefs had planned a special halftime just for Veterans Day. To pull off the event, members of the United States Army were "special guests". I had the honor to be there with my son (SPC), my daughter (PFC), and myself (SPC), all dressed in our ACU to participate in the halftime event.
Before the start of the game, we entered the stadium (around 11:00). The stadium was only starting to fill at that time. When we came out of the tunnel, we were met with a large round of applause, people standing, hanging over the railing to shake our hands. We were "special guests" to the Chiefs, and were given seating on the sidelines behind the visiting team, the Denver Broncos. Members of the Denver Broncos even came over to us to shake our hands. I was told that those in the stadium before our big entrance were treated as Royalty by the Kansas City Chiefs players. This was only the beginning for a humbling day, and a show of patriotism that humbled this old Soldier.
When we took our positions on the sidelines, cheerleaders came over, gave us hugs, and many people would come down to the railing to give us thanks and shake our hands.
Several people in the stands had very nicely done signs thanking the Veterans.
In the pregame festivities, they introduced a local Veteran of WWII. I don't remember the gentleman's credentials, but they were impressive. After listing off his honors, they presented him with a football that had been signed by all of the Chiefs. The crowd gave this fine American Hero a huge standing ovation that lasted for about a minute.
KC Wolf did his pre-game antics dressed in the old Army BDU.
The colors were presented by an Army Color Guard. The National Anthem was sung by a Soldier. At the end of the National Anthem, a B2 Stealth Bomber flew over which ignited the crowd.
During the game, the cheerleaders put on a dance routine dressed in the style of an old Army BDU.
Several Soldiers left the field to go to the bathroom during the game. When going up into the stands and up the stairs, fans would shake the hands and express their gratitude for their service.
Then halftime came, and the Army "special guests", went to the end zone. During the playing of the song, "If I Die Before You Wake", the Army volunteers unfolded a huge American Flag. The crowd cheered when the flag was completed unfolded. About thirty to fifty recruits then took the oath of service before the 80,000 fans to which there was a huge round of applause. I was expecting to hear some boos at the part about obeying the orders of the President of the United States, but I did not hear any. I understand that there were a few, but neither my son, my daughter, nor myself heard any at midfield.
Throughout the day, even as we departed the stadium after the game, we all received probably thousands of thank yous and expressions of gratitude for our service to our country.
For those that feel that patriotism is not alive and well in America, well, you didn't see Arrowhead Stadium as we did today.
For those that were at the Chiefs game today, who perhaps ran into one of us to thank us, I just want to say on behalf of all of us, that it is our honor to wear the uniform and serve our country. It was an honor to be there to represent the Veterans at Arrowhead today.
Thank you, and the west coast black out this game sucked. Any link to get a peek of what you saw?
At this time, I do not have links. I understand that in a few days, the KCChiefs.com web site will have an update on the Cheerleader / events web page with some of their photos.
I wasn’t there to thank you and you family, but i just joined FR to do so. THANKYOU
I found a few Arrowhead pics at http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/photos/KC
I wish they showed halftime shows like they did in the old days - it sounded absolutely wonderful. I’m so glad to be back home in KC (Kansas side) and am very proud of the city today. Thank you for your service and thank you for posting this. I can’t wait to see all the pics.
One more thing: good idea not to talk about the game today. :-(
Thank you for posting the photos. Great photos. For the record, the female soldier in the photos is my daughter, PFC Jacobs.
When they bring the planes over Arrowhead it is awesome. I think the stealth bomber comes by with an “other-worldly” presence of it’s fly-by-wire areodynamic flight path. I have also been there when the A-10s rumble over with all the noise and once when the Airforce came over with a fighter going near Mach-1 right on the deck.
BOOM
I wish I could have seen my son participating in the Army Color Guard at the Phoenix Suns last winter. He was on the Fort Huachuca Honor Guard for six months and served as a substitute for the offical Color Guard team a number of times. He only had a 48 hour notice and didn’t think to call me, LOL. He did tell me about it afterwards.
He is now done and doing the serious business of getting ready for another deployment.
I found out about the WWII Veteran from the Chiefs web site:
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/11/09/chiefs_plan_veterans_day_salute_at_sundays_game_vs_denver/
Among the distinguished guests visiting Arrowhead Sunday will be Paul Bosworth, a staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps. Stationed as a tail gunner in Chelveston, England during World War II, Bosworth’s plane was shot down while flying its 18th mission on March 2, 1945. Captured and imprisoned in Mooseburg, Germany, Bosworth was finally liberated on April 29, 1945 by troops led by General Patton. Bosworth now resides in the Kansas City area.
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